Law School for Everyone

By: The Great Courses, Edward K. Cheng, Joseph L. Hoffmann, Molly Bishop Shadel, Peter J. Smith

Narrated by: Edward K. Cheng, Joseph L. Hoffmann, Molly Bishop Shadel, Peter J. Smith

Length: 25 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

The skills lawyers wield in courtrooms across the country are the result of years of study. As much as we'd like to cultivate these same skills, the truth is that you cannot know how a lawyer thinks and works without studying the law itself.

Now there's an easier way to get the same foundational knowledge as lawyers - without the enormous time and financial commitment. Over the span of 48 lectures, four experienced lawyers and teachers recreate key parts of the first-year law student experience, introducing you to main areas of law most every beginning student studies.

You'll start with 12 lectures on litigation and legal practice that offer eye-opening answers to many questions about the art and craft of legislation. In the second 12 lectures, you'll learn how criminal law and procedure - an area of law dramatized by countless TV shows - really works. Additional lectures investigate the civic procedures courts follow to resolve disputes about substantive rights and examine broader questions any system of litigation must address. And 12 lectures are devoted entirely to the stranger-than-fiction topic of tort law.

Enriched with famous cases from the annals of American law and powerful arguments by some of history's most successful lawyers, these lectures offer access to an often intimidating, surprisingly accessible, and civically important field.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2017 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2017 The Great Courses

Excellent Law School Prep

I listened to this series as preparation for going to actual law school. The concepts explored here have mapped very well onto the first few weeks, giving me a great leg up on understanding the concepts and generally "thinking like a lawyer." I highly recommend it to any prospective or future law student.

Worth the lengthy listen

There are 3 parts to this that cover different laws.

It was a real long book and I listened to this few months ago, so I don't remember as much but it was good for reference to understand how the US justice system works, and the trial processes.
I learnt that the appeal process is only there if there were some technicalities in the lower court's trial. Overall I felt that typically the supreme court cases felt justified and satisfactory, but the lower courts may not rule in your favor, for political reasons. It seems the lengthy legal system can be an advantage to rich people and disadvantageous to the poor. I mean, we all know this, the right lawyers can help you get away with a lot.

So it seems justice is what you're willing to pay for it. Especially in civil litigation. Also interesting to learn about the ability to cross examine each other's evidence before a trial begins with the goal of settlement. It's really interesting option because there seems to be some conflict of interests here. Mainly that it's not in the prosecution's interests to disclose the complete and whole unbiased picture, so they may (illegally and unethically) withhold evidence. This happens even at the State / Federal levels, not just civil litigations. Case in point is the minimal conviction of Jeffrey Epstein in 2008. Another is the State prosecution of two drug lab chemists' (Sonja Farak & Annie Dookhan). The state's judicial system is not always doing the right thing.

I wish this was standard education for everyone

I wish this was standard education for everyone in high school. The material may keep people from being stupid.

The good. This course covers a lot and in enough detail to be useful for kids in high school to me as I deal with lawyers in a Corp office.

The down side.
This is complicated material. I know I only got part of the information. I only know I will retain part of the information. And presenting historical cases that no longer apply will only cloud the information I have in my brain. I don't care that a case happen in the 1800s and then we changed the law; Then a case happened in 1900s and we changed the law; Then a case happened and the new law is .... I know being presented with background is needed for lawyers, but not for people who are not thinking about the law 99% of the time. The history should be a second course and we should divide up the criminal from tort and ....when we go over it.

Great book. But looooooong

Book is covering basics of different types of law and teaches the reader to understand the logic behind the law and judicial decisions. Easy language, simple examples. Easy to understand for broad audience.
Even though it covers only basic stuff, it is 25+ hours of basic stuff...

Easy Listen for the Common Man

Lectures brilliantly interweave current events into the relevant back history of legal thought and its application to make for an easy listen.

I'd recommend for anyone looking for the basics

Good listen, was well read and kept me listening. they covered alot of common law subjects and cases you hear about I'd good details and explained this in a easy to understand way. I highly recommend, hopefully there's a part two some day.

awesome overview of the legal system

As someone who has no interest in our legal system, I find this course very interesting. We make the journey with 3 different law professor's each with their own voice and understanding. I have a new respect for the judiciary system.

Excellent, interesting book

This is an great book that explains a broad range of legal concepts, mostly by describing cases and problems and how the law addresses them. It is logical and talks through the alternatives and weaknesses of various approaches. I went through the entire 25 hours in less than a week

Surprisingly entertaining for such dry material

I had never even considered the idea of law school, but after this I have to admit I love the law. That being said, they repeated this irritating disclaimer forty-eight times: "the legal information provided in these lectures is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. you should contact an attorney to obtain advice with respect to any legal issue or problem". Then I realized - I love the law, I just hate lawyers!

Very well done

I enjoyed the thought provoking and varied cases, history and principles of the current law code. All four professors were engaging and kept me listening to this 25 hour course.